A Little Strange. A Little Fierce. Always Watching Over You
May every household around the world have a Wamao standing guard.
Every piece is absolutely one-of-a-kind.
Each Wamao is handcrafted by Yunnan artisans: sculpted, air-dried, glazed and kiln-fired. No molds, no assembly lines. Tempered by kiln fire, the clay gains personality, and the glaze develops natural shades. No two Wamao are identical.
Two natural raw materials, the same sincere protection.
We use natural local Yunnan clay as the body and mountain mineral pigments for coloring. No chemical additives, no industrial dyes. Every Wamao keeps the original texture of raw earth and minerals.
Pass protection to those you hold dear.
Send this intangible cultural heritage Wamao from Yunnan, China, to your loved ones. It blocks all troubles outside and keeps good fortune indoors. Even when you cannot stay beside them, it will sit quietly, silently guarding the person you care about.
Rooftop Encounters
Many years ago, the EAVECATT team first ventured into Yunnan, searching for intangible cultural heritage crafts hidden deep in mountainous areas, ancient towns and remote villages.
We wandered through tie-dye courtyards, listened to Yi ethnic folk ballads, and felt the unique texture of handmade local paper.
Every craft touched our hearts deeply, yet we still sensed something essential was missing.
Then, in an old village, we looked up suddenly.
We looked up
Perched on the roof ridge sat a cat-shaped ceramic figurine.
No, it was not a real cat. Molded and fired from native clay, it bore bared sharp fangs and wide, staring eyes, its round head poking outwards. It carried a unique charm that felt both imposing and delightfully whimsical.
We had never seen anything like it before.
Its odd appearance drew our gaze irresistibly.
A local craftsman told us: “This is Wamao, a native ceramic guardian spirit of Yunnan. Stationed on roof ridges, it devours all misfortune for each household and brings abundant good luck.”
We stood beneath the eaves, staring upwards for a long time.
Sunlight stretched the shadow of the Wamao across the rammed earth wall, while the old tree beside us rustled gently in the breeze.
At that moment, everything clicked into place:
These peculiar yet adorable guardian spirits should not be confined to the old rooftops of Yunnan, fading away with the passage of time.
They deserve to be seen by the whole world.
From Rooftops to the World
We traveled village after village to meet veteran craftsmen. The original Wamao that once rested on roof ridges was bulky and fragile, confined to old houses and unable to travel beyond the mountains. We preserved its folk meaning of chasing away misfortune and keeping happiness, and remade it into delicate mini decorations for desks, tea tables and windowsills. The ancient beast from the eaves can now reach every corner of the globe.
From Rooftops to Your Home
For thousands of years, Wamao has guarded families across Yunnan. Now it comes to your side, accompanying you day and night.
Craftsmanship Tempered by Centuries
100% hand sculpted • Every piece one-of-a-kind • Rooted in thousand-year-old folk traditions
Playful yet dignified, quietly watching over you all the time
A tiny guardian spirit from Yunnan’s rooftops
In ancient times, Yunnan locals placed Wamao on roof ridges to protect their homes and welcome blessings and auspiciousness.
Each Wamao is hand-shaped by craftsmen, with entirely distinct forms, carrying folk craftsmanship passed down through generations.
Our Mission
We carefully collect the stories and blessings hidden deep in mountain ancient towns, passed down through the words of veteran craftsmen, and deliver them to you across the world.
We hope more people will get to know Yunnan’s intangible cultural heritage, and receive exclusive good fortune from mountain rooftops.
A little odd, a little bold, forever standing watch for you.
— The EAVECATT Team
What is Wamao?
Wamao is a unique ceramic guardian spirit exclusive to Yunnan Province, China.
In the old days, walk into any ancient Yunnan village, look up at the roof, and you will always spot a wide-mouthed Wamao crouching at the center of the main ridge.
Its appearance is completely different from ordinary house cats: round glaring eyes, jaws wide open toward the sky. Some have sharp exposed fangs, while others grow small horns on their heads.
Some find its imposing look striking, others think it funny and lovely. But for Yunnan locals, Wamao is far more than a decoration; it is a spiritual creature that protects the household.
Why Are Wamaos Placed on Roofs?
According to ancient Yunnan folk customs, Wamaos role is to devour all misfortune: fires, disasters and all bad luck.
Its mouth stays wide open facing outwards to swallow all outside ill fortune, locking auspicious blessings safely inside the home.
That’s why Wamao is also known as Ridge Tiger or Swallowing Mask, the spiritual guardian of the entire house.
How Are Wamaos Made?
Tile Cats are shaped entirely by hand—no molds used.
Every Wamao is entirely hand-shaped without any molds.
Craftsmen mix local clay, then shape its round head, upright ears, round eyes and signature broad mouth bit by bit from a single lump of clay.
Its hollow body is its most distinctive feature, with a small hole carved into its back before firing. Elders say this opening allows the Wamao to breathe, endowing it with spiritual power to absorb misfortune and attract blessings.
Once shaped, the figurines air-dry naturally, then are glazed or left unglazed before being fired in an earthen kiln.
Traditional kilns rely fully on the craftsman’s experience to control the temperature: too much heat causes cracking, while insufficient heat warps the shape.
It takes at least ten years of practice to fully master the complete craft of making Wamao.
From Roof Ridge to Your Desk
Our modern Wamaos are no longer the large house-protecting ornaments that once sat on rooftops.
We shrank the traditional form into a range of styles: tea pets, incense holders and small tabletop decorations.
They still retain their iconic wide mouths, balancing imposing dignity and adorable cuteness.
You do not need an old traditional house to own one—any small corner in your home works: your desk, windowsill or bookshelf.
Just like their ancestors guarding villages all over Yunnan, these mini Wamaos stay quietly by your side, easing trivial worries and bringing lasting good luck to your daily life.
Every piece is absolutely one-of-a-kind.
Each Wamao is handcrafted by Yunnan artisans: sculpted, air-dried, glazed and kiln-fired. No molds, no assembly lines. Tempered by kiln fire, the clay gains personality, and the glaze develops natural shades. No two Wamao are identical.
Two natural raw materials, the same sincere protection.
We use natural local Yunnan clay as the body and mountain mineral pigments for coloring. No chemical additives, no industrial dyes. Every Wamao keeps the original texture of raw earth and minerals.
Pass protection to those you hold dear.
Send this intangible cultural heritage Wamao from Yunnan, China, to your loved ones. It blocks all troubles outside and keeps good fortune indoors. Even when you cannot stay beside them, it will sit quietly, silently guarding the person you care about.
Rooftop Encounters
Many years ago, the EAVECATT team first ventured into Yunnan, searching for intangible cultural heritage crafts hidden deep in mountainous areas, ancient towns and remote villages.
We wandered through tie-dye courtyards, listened to Yi ethnic folk ballads, and felt the unique texture of handmade local paper.
Every craft touched our hearts deeply, yet we still sensed something essential was missing.
Then, in an old village, we looked up suddenly.
Perched on the roof ridge sat a cat-shaped ceramic figurine.
No, it was not a real cat. Molded and fired from native clay, it bore bared sharp fangs and wide, staring eyes, its round head poking outwards. It carried a unique charm that felt both imposing and delightfully whimsical.
We had never seen anything like it before.
Its odd appearance drew our gaze irresistibly.
A local craftsman told us: “This is Wamao, a native ceramic guardian spirit of Yunnan. Stationed on roof ridges, it devours all misfortune for each household and brings abundant good luck.”
We stood beneath the eaves, staring upwards for a long time.
Sunlight stretched the shadow of the Wamao across the rammed earth wall, while the old tree beside us rustled gently in the breeze.
At that moment, everything clicked into place:
These peculiar yet adorable guardian spirits should not be confined to the old rooftops of Yunnan, fading away with the passage of time.
They deserve to be seen by the whole world.
From Rooftops to the World
We traveled village after village to meet veteran craftsmen. The original Wamao that once rested on roof ridges was bulky and fragile, confined to old houses and unable to travel beyond the mountains. We preserved its folk meaning of chasing away misfortune and keeping happiness, and remade it into delicate mini decorations for desks, tea tables and windowsills. The ancient beast from the eaves can now reach every corner of the globe.
From Rooftops to Your Home
For thousands of years, Wamao has guarded families across Yunnan. Now it comes to your side, accompanying you day and night.
Craftsmanship Tempered by Centuries
100% hand sculpted • Every piece one-of-a-kind • Rooted in thousand-year-old folk traditions
Playful yet dignified, quietly watching over you all the time
A tiny guardian spirit from Yunnan’s rooftops
In ancient times, Yunnan locals placed Wamao on roof ridges to protect their homes and welcome blessings and auspiciousness.
Each Wamao is hand-shaped by craftsmen, with entirely distinct forms, carrying folk craftsmanship passed down through generations.
Our Mission
We carefully collect the stories and blessings hidden deep in mountain ancient towns, passed down through the words of veteran craftsmen, and deliver them to you across the world.
We hope more people will get to know Yunnan’s intangible cultural heritage, and receive exclusive good fortune from mountain rooftops.
A little odd, a little bold, forever standing watch for you.
— The EAVECATT Team
What is Wamao?
Every Wamao is entirely hand-shaped without any molds.
Craftsmen mix local clay, then shape its round head, upright ears, round eyes and signature broad mouth bit by bit from a single lump of clay.
Its hollow body is its most distinctive feature, with a small hole carved into its back before firing. Elders say this opening allows the Wamao to breathe, endowing it with spiritual power to absorb misfortune and attract blessings.
Once shaped, the figurines air-dry naturally, then are glazed or left unglazed before being fired in an earthen kiln.
Traditional kilns rely fully on the craftsman’s experience to control the temperature: too much heat causes cracking, while insufficient heat warps the shape.
It takes at least ten years of practice to fully master the complete craft of making Wamao.
Why Are Wamaos Placed on Roofs?
According to ancient Yunnan folk customs, Wamaos role is to devour all misfortune: fires, disasters and all bad luck.
Its mouth stays wide open facing outwards to swallow all outside ill fortune, locking auspicious blessings safely inside the home.
That’s why Wamao is also known as Ridge Tiger or Swallowing Mask, the spiritual guardian of the entire house.
How Are Wamaos Made?
Tile Cats are shaped entirely by hand—no molds used.
Every Wamao is entirely hand-shaped without any molds.
Craftsmen mix local clay, then shape its round head, upright ears, round eyes and signature broad mouth bit by bit from a single lump of clay.
Its hollow body is its most distinctive feature, with a small hole carved into its back before firing. Elders say this opening allows the Wamao to breathe, endowing it with spiritual power to absorb misfortune and attract blessings.
Once shaped, the figurines air-dry naturally, then are glazed or left unglazed before being fired in an earthen kiln.
Traditional kilns rely fully on the craftsman’s experience to control the temperature: too much heat causes cracking, while insufficient heat warps the shape.
It takes at least ten years of practice to fully master the complete craft of making Wamao.
From Roof Ridge to Your Desk
Our modern Wamaos are no longer the large house-protecting ornaments that once sat on rooftops.
We shrank the traditional form into a range of styles: tea pets, incense holders and small tabletop decorations.
They still retain their iconic wide mouths, balancing imposing dignity and adorable cuteness.
You do not need an old traditional house to own one—any small corner in your home works: your desk, windowsill or bookshelf.
Just like their ancestors guarding villages all over Yunnan, these mini Wamaos stay quietly by your side, easing trivial worries and bringing lasting good luck to your daily life.
